5″ scale 9F evening star

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5″ scale 9F evening star

This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 24 December 2011 at 15:08 by KMP.

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24 January 2011 at 21:33 #998
ben grenter
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@bengrenter22203
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24 January 2011 at 21:33 #63084
ben grenter
Participant
@bengrenter22203
hi folks, new to this forum thing. im building a 5″ evening star to les warnett drawings. just a quick query on the boiler really. the boiler it tapered and shows a strap joining at the bottom but it shows no rivet details. does it need it or is just silver soldering sufficent???? ive looked at the articles in EIM but it does not help really. any advice would be great.

Ben
24 January 2011 at 21:58 #63087
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
Hi Ben,

A friend of mine built a beautiful example of the 9F to Warnett drawings. I helped him with some troubleshooting after he finished it. There were some troubles along the way, and I remember his comments or remember what we did to fix things. He has now passed away but his family has his engine.

1. He commented that while making the boiler shell he found that a few screws were needed to keep it from opening up as the heat expanded the copper. (that may answer your question. I would add that I would feel better with more than just a few screws or rivets along the seam of such a big copper boiler)

2. He commented that he had a terrible time setting the valves, as the drawings of the valvegear did not seem to be in correct position as needed for quartered drivers. He eventually did get it adjusted, I think just by working on each side imdependently. He did say he made 3 sets of return cranks before he got their rotated position workable, so it might be wise to set valves with a clamp-on set of temporary ret. cranks then after all is set and temporarily held in position, drill and tap crankpins for the scale return cranks.

3. We had an awful time getting the throttle to work correctly and seal off. Also, he had made some in-boiler pivot pins of plain rather than stainless steel and over the course of a few years of building these had partially disappeared by rusting! New ones were made in stainless, a new throttle was made and lapped in. I would fit a smokebox throttle made from a commercial high temp Swagelok type ball valve if ding it again. It’s a lot less trouble and will work reliably for many years. No fiddly small parts either.

Good luck with your engine.

JD

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 24/01/2011 21:59:26
19 December 2011 at 20:33 #80137
Brian Riding
Participant
@brianriding93528
Hi Ben
I have just found your posting. I to am building the same model and have been for many years. I have completed the boiler and run the motion on compressed air. Were are you up to and what problems have you found.

I have made up a mock return crank for the first run and now that I have painted the chassis and am in the process of assembly again will make up new ones. At the moment I am making the external double chimney from a solid lump of brass

I would like to have general chat about the loco and associated problems/solutions. I have built the poppet valve regulator.
20 December 2011 at 21:29 #80193
KMP
Participant
@kmp
Hi, although I can’t help with the question I have been contemplating building one of these locomotives for several years. I have the book which covers the 3.5” gauge version but have not been able to find a source for drawings for the 5” one.

While I have been involved with engineering for many years and have a small workshop, I have no experience of steam at all. To help my decision on which version to build I would appreciate any thoughts you may have as to the best size for a first try. I know that I should look to something less demanding but Evening Star has been a passion for some time. I like the smaller one which is obviously cheaper but have been greatly impressed by the larger engine at several exhibitions and my equipment will handle either. I see it very much as a long term project with breaks for smaller items if inspiration wanes.

Any experience or advice would be much appreciated as would a pointer to a source for the 5″ drawings.

Best regards
Keith
20 December 2011 at 22:11 #80195
Clive Hartland
Participant
@clivehartland94829
I am in my ninth year of constructing a 3.5″ Evening Star, This time period partly due to

lack of facilities when moving houses.

The build is interesting and as a 2-10-0 can get a bit long winded making multiple parts. Luckily i have only had to remake 1 part as the drawings are wrong.

I now have a rolling chassi with the Tender complete, the smoke box is done.

Then the change in requirements for boilers came along and now I have to find £1300 to have a boiler made, where previously it would have been about £300.

see my Photos for the Loco so far.

As to which gauge to build I cannot say as I am committed to the one I am doing.

I even have the Evening star in 00 gauge just to look at.

Clive
21 December 2011 at 22:52 #80241
Brian Riding
Participant
@brianriding93528
I have been building the 5″ scale loco for about seven years plus two years were I was working too much and could not get in garage. The biggest thing about building it is all of the jigs needed and the 5″ scale requires quite heavy stuff. To build the boiler I needed propane to warm up the copper and oxy to localise the heat.
The total weight of the loco is apparently going to be around 100 kg but at the moment the chassis and boiler are not connected permanently and can be lifted separately.
I should imagine the 3.5″ will be much easier to transport to the track, the 5″ will require to be run into the back of he car on a specially design track from garage to car. Impossible to lift.
I really enjoy solving all the individual problems but the detail required to complete is quite daunting at times 36 A0 sheets of drawings totally full with details and information. I have not yet built the pony truck and should imagine will take several months.
The choice of scale is a difficult one and is yours, I got virtually all the castings for ?300 ten years ago it seemed a lot at the time.
24 December 2011 at 15:08 #80408
KMP
Participant
@kmp
Clive, Brian

Thank you very much for your comments they are really helpful.

I see this as a long term project and it looks like my expectations/fears are justified – long it will be. You are both right of course the scale is down to me and what I want to handle. Having looked at the 5″ and some of the associated costs it appears to be quite an investment if I go with laser cut items and castings. I had been concerned that a suitable 3.5″ track might be more difficult to find but on reflection the finished model may only steam enough to prove that it can. I have a Pansy that I could finish as a “driving” engine if that aspect of the hobby catches me.

As I am not known for my long term models I was going to buy as many ready cut or cast items possible to releive a little of the production type activity. Am I right in that concept or do you think that it removes much of the fun of the task? I wish I could find a set of castings at that price now Brian it appears to have been a very good investment. I have had a good look at the pictures Clive it looks very impressive workmanship, not sure I can match that.

Thanks again both for your help, and of course compliments of the season.

Keith
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